Scarlet Heat Read online

  I finished with his eye and noted with satisfaction that it looked just the same as the other one. My healing powers had developed wonderfully since I had been with him. Next was the silver knuckles scrape on his cheek.

  This one was a bit harder to reach. I had to sit down in his lap to get on the right level. I jumped up again, though, when I felt the hard ridge of his cock brushing against my naked pussy through the thin material of his sleep pants.

  “Sorry.” His voice was a soft, deep growl. “Can’t help it, baby. Having you so close…”

  “It…it’s okay,” I whispered, staring at him uncertainly. “I’m just not sure if…”

  “Come down,” he urged me gently, looking into my eyes. “I mean, if you want to.”

  “I do,” I said softly. “I just…I’m not sure.”

  Victor stroked my cheek. “I won’t hurt you, Taylor. Won’t take more than you want to give. I like the way you feel against me.”

  “I…I like the way it feels too,” I confessed a little breathlessly. The soft way he talked to me, the gentle way he touched me, was so different from the abuse I’d suffered when I lived with Celeste. He made me feel safe…safe and loved. I felt something inside—some knot that kept me bound up in fear and bad memories of the past—beginning to loosen, just a little bit. Yes, I thought. I want this. I can do this.

  I lowered myself down again, letting myself settle more fully in his lap. Victor gave a soft, deep growl and I had to bite back a moan as I felt my pussy lips part around the thick ridge of his shaft. The sleep pants he had on were made of thin, soft material and it seemed like I could feel every bump and ridge of his cock rubbing against my bare, open pussy and my slippery inner folds.

  And speaking of slippery, now that I was pressed against him, I could feel how wet I was. A surge of embarrassment went through me and I started to get up again.

  “What’s wrong?” Victor held me gently but firmly by the hips.

  I bit my lip, my cheeks going red. “Nothing except…I’m, uh, afraid I’m getting your pants, um, all wet.”

  “I know.” He held my eyes with his. “I love it. Now come on, baby—I thought you were going to heal me.”

  “Oh yes…yes, of course.” I relaxed in his lap and took a deep breath, trying to stop my heart from beating so hard. That’s what I was doing, I told myself—just healing him. That was all this had to be—we didn’t have to go farther if I didn’t want to.

  Leaning forward, I cupped his face in my hands and went back to work.

  I could feel the numbing tingle of the silver spreading through my mouth the minute I licked him—it was like licking a mildly electrified wire, not pleasant but not unbearable either. I traced the scrape over and over with just the tip of my tongue, paying careful attention to the deepest part of the wound until I tasted only his blood without a single tang of the burning metal that had marked him. I was just about to finish up by sealing the wound when Victor gave a low groan.

  “Did I hurt you?” I pulled back at once, looking into his eyes, which were pure gold.

  “Uh-uh. No, baby.” He shook his head but his hands tightened on my hips. “I’m afraid you’ll have to get up now, though.”

  “Why?” I asked anxiously. “Was it…is there something I did wrong?”

  “Of course not, you’re perfect.” He gave me a strained smile and I couldn’t help noticing that his eyes were glowing so brightly they looked like molten metal. “It’s just…this is, uh, harder than I thought.”

  “What is?” I asked, even though I already knew.

  “Touching you. Being so close to you when you’re in heat without doing anything about it.” He sighed roughly, his hand going to the small of his back. He rubbed it fiercely. “I’m sorry, but my condition—”

  “The moon sickness?” I asked, raising an eyebrow.

  He nodded. “Uh yeah, that. It makes it…I’m just really close to…to having a serious problem. So I’m afraid I can’t let you finish healing me.”

  “But…I was so close to being done,” I protested. “I hate to leave the job unfinished—you could have a scar.”

  “Taylor,” he said quietly, looking me in the eyes. “I’m sorry but I can’t do this anymore. I though I could but it’s a bad idea. I can’t…can’t let you lick me again unless—”

  He broke off abruptly.

  “Unless what?” I prompted, my heart beating like a drum in my chest.

  Victor cupped my cheek. “Unless you let me return the favor. And I don’t mean licking your face, baby.”

  All the breath left my lungs and for a moment I felt completely frozen. I knew what he was talking about—licking me, tasting me. My pussy throbbed with heat and I felt fresh wetness between my legs as I pressed against him.

  “Victor,” I whispered. “You know I want to…to let you. I’m just so…I’m still afraid.”

  “You don’t ever have to be afraid of me. I’ll be gentle—so gentle.” He pulled my face closer to his. “Here, let me show you.”

  He had kissed me before—once in our first glam-session and also when he was touching me before, helping me back off the heat that threatened to consume me. But this kiss was different.

  His lips barely brushed mine at first, nuzzling against me so softly, so delicately I could barely feel anything but his warm breath. Then, slowly, he pressed his mouth to mine, first kissing my top lip, and then my bottom one.

  “Oh,” I whispered softly against his mouth. The way he touched me, so tenderly, so gently made me feel utterly desired, utterly cherished.

  “So sweet,” Victor murmured roughly and took my mouth again, this time deepening the kiss until I could just feel the tip of his tongue brushing against the seam of my lips, asking for entrance.

  I moaned breathlessly and opened to him. He tasted wonderful, like scotch and cinnamon and some dark spice I couldn’t name. His hands cupped my face as he kissed me, his long fingers warm against my skin. I could feel the tension of his big body and knew he was holding himself back, forcing himself to go slowly and carefully when part of him desperately wanted to do the exact opposite. But I felt nothing but safe with him. Nothing but loved.

  When he finally pulled back, I looked into his glowing golden eyes and nodded.

  “Yes,” I whispered. “Yes, Victor, do it. I…I want you to.”

  “God, baby, you don’t know how much I want this,” he groaned softly, kissing me again. “Do you want to lie down or should I taste you sitting up?”

  “Um…” I cleared my throat. “How…how would you do that?”

  “Like this.” He slid down and propped several pillows behind his shoulders so he was sitting against the headboard. “Come here and I’ll show you,” he said, motioning for me to come closer. “Unless you’d rather lay back on the bed?”

  I though of how open and vulnerable that position would make me feel and shook my head.

  “I…I think I’d rather do it this way.”

  “Come on, then,” he murmured. “But take that shirt off first. It’ll get in the way otherwise.”

  Blushing, I slipped off the shirt and laid it to one side. It was the second time he had seen me naked but I still felt self-conscious.

  Victor’s eyes were hooded with desire and he gave a soft growl of approval deep in his throat.

  “God, you’re beautiful, baby. Your soft, full breasts—those tight little nipples. Can I suck them some before I go down on you?”

  “I…I guess so.” My heart was drumming in my chest as I leaned forward, offering him my breasts.

  Victor was just as gentle with them as he had been with my mouth. I had to bite back a moan as his rough cheeks brushed my tender slopes and then he leaned forward and captured one tight, aching peak between his lips.

  “Oh!” I couldn’t keep quiet anymore. His mouth was hot and wet and the teasing way he traced my nipple with his tongue made my pussy throb with need. The heat surged inside me, and suddenly I couldn’t stand it anymore. “Victor,” I